Copa del Rey - Barca to meet Athletic in final

Eurosport - Wed, 04 Mar 23:53:00 2009

Lionel Messi struck late to help Barcelona seal a place in the Copa Del Rey final, a 1-1 draw at Real Mallorca completing a 3-1 aggregate victory for the Liga leaders.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Barcelona - Lionel Messi - 0

Barcelona will play Athletic Bilbao in the final in Valencia after the Basque club beat Sevilla 3-0 at home to overturn a 2-1 defeat from last month's first leg.

Barca have run into a miserable patch of form since they beat Mallorca 2-0 in the first leg at the Nou Camp and the latest result means they are without a win in five matches in all competitions.

They rode their luck in a match that saw both teams reduced to 10 men.

Gonzalo Castro gave the islanders the lead with a powerful drive that flew into the top left corner at the end of the first half.

Barca goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto saved Jose Luis Marti's weak penalty early in the second half, awarded after defender Martin Caceres felled Castro and earned himself a straight red card.

Mallorca lost defender Josemi to a second yellow card in the 65th minute for bringing down Messi.

The Argentine made it 1-1 in the 81st minute when he pounced on a defensive error and lifted the ball over German Lux.

Fernando Llorente was the matchwinner for Athletic in Bilbao, scoring one and creating two to help his side reach their first final in 24 years.

Sevilla were under pressure immediately at a sodden San Mames and the home side were in front within four minutes.

Llorente flicked on a long throw and midfielder Javi Martinez buried the ball at the second attempt.

The powerfully built striker doubled the lead with a header from Fran Yeste's cross and then released Gaizka Toquero on the left of the penalty area for the midfielder to put Athletic 3-0 ahead before the break.

It will be Barca's first appearance in the final since they beat Mallorca on penalties to win a second consecutive Copa in 1998 and seal a record 24th triumph.

Athletic have lifted the trophy 23 times.

Reuters

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  1. In Europe is only one football club.This is­ f.c.BARCELONA.For this year three champion

    From Hekrem K, on Wed 13 May 12:40PM
  2. Its very good news for Atletic Bilbao cos even if they­ lose against barca they will be in europa cup.Cos barca­ will play in champions league next season­ :))))))))Forza Bilbao

    From marti1700, on Thu 5 Mar 4:49PM
  3. madshit isnt a bad word? when you say: oh, this is maad­ shitt! its not a bad word, its like a compliment, so­ just use it barcelona fans, hehe. we madridistas dont­ care:O

    From chechenr, on Thu 5 Mar 2:08PM
  4. i like it when barcelona haters post some amazingly­ stupid comments...we'll c who's gonna laugh at­ who by the end of the season...

    From Abby, on Thu 5 Mar 1:02PM
  5. OR A TRANSVERSI IS SINGING

    From Joe Y, on Thu 5 Mar 4:35AM
  6. oh hush up you Ninasky singer­ fogggggggggggggggggggggggooooooooooooooooooooot­ Barcelona......

    From mehdi y, on Thu 5 Mar 2:36AM
  7. Only 1 team in Spain will claim the Treble this­ season!!

    From Top Dog, on Thu 5 Mar 2:30AM
  8. @ mehdi y. fu.......ck you bit.....ch. Don't worry­ I can't wait for next week against liverpool, to­ sing madshit fans a song, It goes: NaNaNaNa NaNaNaNa­ HeyHeyHey Good Buy.

    From barcelona_the_best1, on Thu 5 Mar 1:19AM
  9. Barca campeon

    From Cynthia, on Thu 5 Mar 12:51AM
  10. Comment hidden due to it's low rating. Show

    Barca - atletico: 3 - 4 final
    Barca - Lyon: 1-2­ final
    Real - Barca: 4-1

    final spanish board:
    1- Real­ 92 pts
    2- Barca 88 pts
    3- Valence 79...

    From mehdi y, on Thu 5 Mar 12:36AM
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